View source for Public radio, TV stations raise funds for programing

{{article
| publication = The News-Press
| file = 1984-12-08 News Press.jpg
| px = 750
| height = 
| width = 
| date = 1984-12-08
| author = Michael Dunn
| pages = 2B
| language = English 
| type = 
| description = 
| categories = PBS
| moreTitles = 
| morePublications = 
| moreDates = 
| text = 
It's still just a baby, barely more than a year old, but the WSFP public television and radio station quickly is becoming a favorite child of many Southwest Florida residents.

WSFP radio, 90.1 on the FM dial, just raised $16,000 in donations from residents to keep its programming on the air, said Judie Horowitz, assistant to the director of development for public broadcasting. [[broadwcast:WSFP-TV|WSFP-TV]], channel 30, is near the end of a nine-day fund-raising drive that has netted more than $17,250.

"This community is fabulous. They really support public television, and we try to give them something in return," Horowitz said.

Horowitz said the station sponsors three nine-day fund-raising events each year. The radio fundraising effort for this winter just ended, and the television effort goes through Sunday, she said.

WSFP-TV is the sister station of [[broadwcast:WUSF|WUSF]], the University of South Florida-related station in Tampa. The Tampa station provides most of the funding for WSFP's operation, but public donations also are needed in order to bring the kind of programming people in Southwest Florida want, Horowitz said.

"For nine days we have special programming, and we break into the program periodically to appeal for funds," she said about the fund-raising drive. "What we're trying to do is raise enough funds to purchase additional programs, and we need additional equipment."

One of the programs the station is trying to purchase, Horowitz said, is "Dr. Who," a popular family science-fiction television show. But public support is vital in order to purchase programs such as "Dr. Who," she said.

Besides the nine-day fund-raising drives, she said, the station has a Sesame Street Club for children. Parents may make a donation to the station in the child's name, and the child receives a Sesame Street membership card, a certificate and a birthday card from the Cookie Monster. Children receive additional gifts as the size of donation increases, Horowitz said.

"Fort Myers is an incredible community," she said. "The reception has been excellent."

Those who would like to find out more about the station or who would like to make a donation should call 481-3186, Horowitz said.

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